CHAPTER 49: IGNIS’ FIRST MEETING WITH JAMES’ FAMILY

"Isn’t having two Ultimate Skills not that big of a deal? She shouldn’t be able to use both in a single fight anyway, right?" James asked with a doubtful expression.

[Ding!]

[On the contrary, she can use both Ultimate Skills consecutively. Her Ultimate Sword Skill draws power from her human-form core, while her Ultimate Dragon Skill consumes the energy from her draconic core, the true mana heart of a dragon.]

[For your information... Although all True Dragons possess two cores, the strength of the human core heavily depends on their bloodline level. Dragon Race of the Imperial-tier bloodline has the same level of a human core as the magicians of the same rank.]

’No wonder she’s one of the strongest within the younger generation in the Dragon Race.’ James nodded his head.

Now James felt that he had wasted his duplicate chance before. If he were to have another duplicate chance, Ignis’ bloodline would definitely be his first choice.

However, what’s done is done.

He could only hope to get another duplicate chance.

...

An hour later, they finally arrived at the Steelhearts. Elara, Evelyn and the others were having their lovely conversation in one of the gazebos at the garden.

"James?" Evelyn murmured softly when she noticed that James was walking toward them with Nyxrael and a gorgeous girl that she had never seen.

Elara instantly shifted her gaze to where her mom’s gaze landed on, then directly jumped down and ran toward James with open arms.

"Brother!"

James squatted down a little and caught Elara in his arms. He hugged his little princess affectionately and chuckled. "Elara, I’ll be heading to Valentis City for a while. So make sure you behave while you stay in Lycranor City, alright?"

Before she could reply, he continued teasingly,

"I’ll eat tons of seafood and all sorts of delicacies by the ocean. Don’t worry, I’ll bring back some for you and—"

"Elara wants to go with Brother James!" Elara declared, as she immediately hugged James’ neck tightly with her small hands while her legs wrapped on his body as if she didn’t want to be separated from him.

"No, the trip is long, and we don’t have time to waste traveling by carriage or horseback. We’ll be going on foot since it’s much faster." James shook his head.

Naturally, what James meant was not by his own foot, but rather being carried by Nyxrael.

"But you promised!" she protested, tightening her grip. "You promised that next time you went somewhere, you’d take me!"

"I know, but this trip is different." James petted her back, feigning on persuading her.

"I don’t care since you already promised me before." Elara shook his head.

"But—"

Before James could finish his sentence, Elara suddenly bit James’s neck and spoke in her adorable gibberish, "No vok, ewawa ih hoing wik bobeh hem bih pum."

Translated to: "No but, Elara is going with Brother James this time!"

"Okay, okay... Elara will go with me this time." James smiled widely, enjoying such a simple moment that he had never felt in his previous life.

"Really?" Elara looked at James with sparkling eyes.

"Of course. But you won’t come with me again anytime soon, okay? At least not for a while." He pinched her soft cheek playfully.

"Okay! Deal!" Elara nodded excitedly and unknowingly drooled herself at the thought of eating delicious seafood, etc.

"Oh my, my... And who is this beautiful young lady, James?" Evelyn walked toward Ignis with a curious expression.

"This is Ignis. You can think of her as... well, similar to Nyx, basically my subordinate." James smiled and started to introduce one by one.

"Ignis, this is my mother, Evelyn." James looked at Evelyn, then pinched her little sister’s cheek. "And this little troublemaker is my little sister, Elara."

Ignis bowed slightly with elegance. "Greetings, Lady Evelyn. Greetings, Young Lady Elara."

"What are you saying, child?" Evelyn waved her hand dismissively, stepping closer with a warm smile as she caressed Ignis’s face. "Just call me Aunt Evelyn from now on. We’re family here. No need for stiff formalities."

"If that’s what you wish, Aunt Evelyn." Ignis returned her smile with genuine warmth.

"Brother James, who is she? That big sister is so beautiful!" Elara tugged James’ coat and whispered softly.

James patted her head with a smile. "Didn’t I say it already? She’s basically like Nyx. You can treat her as your older sister if you want to."

Elara eyes’ lit up. "Really?"

"Of course, but if she allows it." James smiled.

Elara immediately jumped down and approached Ignis, who was looking at her amusedly.

She then stayed behind her mom and peaked her small, blinking her eyes cutely as she asked. "Ummm, Big Sister Ignis... do you want to be Elara’s older sister?"

Ignis responded with a smile that would’ve captivated all men in the world unless they’re gay.

"Of course I do. Who would ever refuse a cute, lovely little princess like you?"

"Yayyy! Elara now finally has a sister!" Elara instantly became overjoyed and jumped into Ignis’ arms.

Elara was genuinely happy because she had actually never felt to have a sister, mostly because Steelhearts’ main family didn’t give birth to a girl except Elara. Not only that, most female knights always treat her like a princess and never dared to have a closer relationship with her.

Looking at Elara who hugged Ignis tightly, yet affectionately, James smiled happily and felt that something within his heart had been lifted.

After a few moments, Elara looked at Ignis’ horns curiously and asked with an innocent expression. "Sister Ignis, what are those things? Can I touch them?"

Cough!

James coughed awkwardly, knowing that Elara must be up to no good.

However, Ignis paid no mind to it and replied with a faint smile. "They’re horns, as you can see. And of course, my adorable little princess can touch them."

Elara climbed Ignis’ body and finally sat herself on her shoulders. Then, she tried poking the horn softly. "Is it okay if I touch it like this?"

Everyone shook their heads helplessly when they saw Elara’s genuine worried expression.

"Of course, it’s pretty sturdy and will be fine even if you hit it hard. So, don’t worry about it." Ignis chuckled lightly.